Disclaimers

All characters appearing in Marvel Comics and Gargoyles & Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Company. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holders.

All original characters are the property of Celgress.

Small Town Spider-Man – Episode Forty-Nine: We Didn't Start the Fire

By

Celgress

Outskirts of Cider Falls Mid-July, night

Pushing through thick underbrush she sniffed the warm evening air. It smelled of living things; planets, animals and faintly of burning wood. Latching onto the one scent which didn't belong she stomped forward tracking it to it's source. A group of startled young people watched her enter the clearing where a massive bonfire raged.

"What the fuck is it?" One of the young men said in horror.

"I think it is one of those crazy mutants." One of the young women voiced her opinion.

"Looks like the Hulk to me." Another young man said.

"Nah, the Incredible Hulk isn't a chick besides he lives in New York with our own White Tarantula and the other Avengers these days." A third young man countered.

"Than what is it, I mean she?" A second young woman asked alarmed.

"I don't know." The third young man said with a shrug.

"I'm going to offer her a drink. Maybe I'll get laid." The second young man laughed grabbing a beer bottle he wobbled forward. "How about it Big Green, want to party with us?" He asked titling his head upwards to make eye contact with the She Beast he thrusted his offering forward.

Looking down at the intoxicated young man who come up to her chest and his party gift the She Beast inclined her head slightly considering. There was something familiar here. Something tantalizing out of reach in her swirling mind. What was it?

"C'mon Big Green take it." The second young man urged pushing the bottle against her bare rock hard midsection.

Unnoticed by the She Beast the first young man had picked up a large branch and snuck up behind her. Reaching forward to take the liquid peace offering a cracking sound filled could be heard as the branch broke once it made contact with her broad shoulders. Far more annoyed than hurt The She Beast spun around. Roaring in anger she hoisted up her attacker over her head. She was ready to toss him far away as her powerful muscles would allow when a thought intruded on her fiery state of mind.

'Stop I do not kill. I do not maim. I am better than that. I fight injustice. I am a servant of the people. I am…Jennifer…Walters. Yes….I…remember.'

"Go," Jennifer snarled in her now husky dropping the young man on the ground rather roughly.

"Huh," The second young woman said the group paralyzed with fear.

"Go, get out of here now!" Jennifer bellowed at the young people who scrambled away from her, including her would be assailant. Looking down at her altered, half naked body Jennifer once again lost control of herself.

Unleashing a primal scream Jennifer unleashed her fury stamping out the bun fire. She then proceeded to rip up a series sizable trees by their roots. Jennifer spent the next several hours rampaging through the forest wrecking destruction wherever she went, during which time she was seen from afar by several people, until the approach of dawn painted the eastern sky a dusky pink. Suddenly feeling tired Jennifer's long strides slowed until she collapsed unable to move another inch alongside of a dirt road, her body painfully contorted as she reverted to her normal physical appearance. Jennifer laid there for nearly an hour utterly unexhausted until a Cider Falls Police Department patrol car spotted her clothed in dirty tattered rags. Pulling alongside her resting place two officers jumped out of the cruiser running to check if Jennifer was alive or dead. Discovering she was indeed alive they radioed for an ambulance then called their headquarters to inform them that after more than a week of being missing Jennifer Walters had at last been found.

Dr. Meyer's Bee Keeping Field, dawn

As the sun rose lighting up the Eastern sky with brilliant shades of yellow and orange slowly, painfully Dr. Fritz von Meyer regained consciousness. Everything seemed different his body had an oddly detached feeling. His field of vision unnaturally wide, blues, greens and violets were vivid while other darker colors appeared muted. A crawling sensation covered his body and a persistent buzzing filled his ears. He tried to speak but discovered forming words of any sort proved exceedingly difficult. Moving his body he found an airy sensation surrounded him. Ignoring it he made his way to the beekeeper's hut where he kept a small mirror on the front door for last minute suit checks. What he saw reflected there at first confused, then frightened and finally enraged him. The image which presented itself was that of a vaguely humanoid shape made up of tens of thousands of tightly clustered, glowing bees! It possessed the rudiments of a mouth and two eye sockets emitting yellowish-green light. Dr. Meyer realized he could no longer be considered human in even the loosest sense of the term. In fact wasn't a single being rather a conglomeration of multiple creatures, a super organism, a colony of sentient insects somehow held in tandem by his will. He was an abomination, an affront to nature itself.

'This is all Lilian Osborn's and her flunky Donald Menken's fault.' Dr. Meyer thought as memories of recent months flooded back to him ending with his own accidental exposure to the gamma serum he'd fabricated and subsequent tumble into one of his largest bee hives. 'They blackmailed me, forced my hand. The made me experiment first on my own beloved bees.' He mentally chuckled at that singular fact before once again gathering his thoughts. 'But that wasn't enough they wanted human guinea pigs. Next they strong armed me into committing atrocities against that poor, innocent young woman they had Fury the latest villainous Goblin kidnap. They are responsible for what happened to me. It is their fault. No more, they'll pay I'll see to that. They'll regret their using me. Once I've mastered this new form I'll pay them a most unpleasant visit. One they won't soon forget!'

Osborn Mansion

"What's going on mom?" Harry Osborn said sleepily coming out of his room in pajama bottoms his fiancé Liz Allen was behind him wearing a matching shirt.

"Why are the police here Mrs. Osborn? Is something wrong?" Liz said yawning.

Lily who was wearing a blue silk robe tied tightly around her waist scowled at Chief Stacy and the six officers with him. "Really Chief Stacy must you search our bedrooms on a Sunday morning at the crack of dawn no less?" Lily then muttered several barely whispered invectives against the Chief, his linage and his family.

"Yes I must." Chief Stacy said gruffly ignoring Lily's abusive tirade.

"May I at least ask what you hope to find through this invasion of my family's privacy?" Lily said sighing dramatically.

"Clues," Chief Stacy said directing his officers in different directions.

"Clues," Lily said dumbfounded.

"Clues relating to the current whereabouts of one Jennifer Walters abduction victim," Chief Stacy said.

Lily laughed. "Trust me you won't find her here."

Twenty minutes later the six officers returned having completed their searches. Not surprisingly to Chief Stacy they were empty handed. They'd reached the moment of truth. He hoped his strategy would work. Turning his attention back towards Lily he barked.

"I'll only ask you this once. You'd best cooperate. Where is the entrance to the underground tunnels located?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Lily said scoffing at Chief Stacy's demand.

"Cut the crap Lily I know a series of tunnels run from Oscorp Industries to this mansion." Chief Stacey said growing irritated at Lily's smug attitude.

"Prove it," Lily said defiantly calling Chief Stacy's bluff.

"Oh I will." Chief Stacy said leaning in close. "I was hoping you'd turned over a new leaf. Guess I was wrong. A leopard never changes her spots and a goblin never learns from her mistakes, eh Menace?"

"Leave my mother alone!" Harry said. He physically inserted himself between Lily and Chief Stacy. "I won't allow you to harass her any longer!"

"Stay out of this it doesn't concern you boy." Chief Stacy warned Harry.

"I think you should leave Chief Stacy." Liz said moving to Harry's side.

"Alright, play that game." Chief Stacy said. "One way or another I'm getting to the bottom of this, with or without help from any of you. We're done here." Chief Stacy's officers followed him out of the mansion.

"Damn him." Lily said once she, Harry and Liz were alone.

"Mom you aren't involved in Ms. Walters' disappearance, right?" Harry said.

"Of course not," Lily said. "Chief Stacy has had it out for me ever since I temporarily lost control after sampling the Goblin Juice and as a result became Menace. Chief Stacy is best friends with your father's murderer, Spider-Man's. Don't forget that Harry, you either Liz. Spider-Man and his allies are sworn enemies of our family. They want nothing less that our ruination."

"I thought you said Spider-Man gave up on getting revenge against us?" Liz said.

"Or so he claimed. After today I seriously doubt his sincerity," Lily said her expression having grown hard. "I fear sending his lapdog Chief Stacy after us might only be the beginning. Spider-Man is a dangerous individual. He'll stop at nothing less than the annihilation of our family, which I will never allow."

Outside the Osborn Mansion Chief Stacy unhappily got into his police cruiser. He knew Lily Osborn was hiding something but he couldn't prove it, yet. Chief Stacy was about to go back inside and give Lily a piece of his mind when his radio crackled to life. The dispatcher's voice announcing Jennifer Walters had been found alongside a dirt road outside of town. He couldn't believe his ears. He had to get back to HQ immediately. Wasting no time Chief Stacy slammed shut his cruiser door and sped away from the Osborn Mansion, Lily's intransigence forgotten.

Syracuse Hancock International Airport, afternoon

"I hope your plan ride was a smooth one Ms. Andreva (Ahn-dra-vah)?" J. Jonah Jameson said to Andreva as she exited the private jet which bore the International Order of Hunters insignia – a black circle trisected by jagged red slash marks running from upper right to lower left. A pattern mimicked by that of Andreva's mask. She carried a single article of luggage in her left hand which she dropped at her feet stopping in front of the grizzled media mogul who she seemed to regard with only mild interest.

"Comfort is an extravagance one can ill afford in my line of work Mr. Jameson. I do not trivialize myself obsessing over such, useless luxuries." Andreva said in her electronically enhanced voice seizing Jonah up with an appraising stare. The featureless white eyeholes of her mainly obsidian mask unnerved Jonah in a way he'd be loath to admit. Suppressing a shudder Jonah forced himself to remain calm under Andreva's unflinching gaze.

"Uh which brings up something I must ask." Jonah said after gulping nervously. "My old friend Angus MacIntyre wasn't clear on exactly how you're supposed to solve the problems plaguing my town."

"Tell me Mr. Jameson does the snake hate the rat?" Andreva answered cryptically.

"Pardon, I don't understand." Jonah said.

"The snake that strikes down the rat does so not out of malic but rather survival, it kills to live." Andreva explained stretching out her open right hand towards Jonah. "All things strive for continuity Mr. Jameson, we humans are no different. Often if one organism is to not only survive but thrive another organism must perish. It is the natural order of things. Invasive organisms however bend these established rules they thrive by exploiting others' weaknesses. They conquer through deception not strength. They corrupt and destroy everything around, even the ecosystem itself. My job is protecting those who are unwary from the machinations of such abnormals, by any and all means necessary. I along with my fellow hunters do what must be done. We eliminate those entities who threatened the sanctity of humanity. Because of our efforts people like you Mr. Jameson can sleep easy at night. By the time I leave these shores I swear on my honor not one abnormal shall polluted your fair valley with it's vile presence Mr. Jameson." Andreva snapped shut her fingers forming a tight fist.

"Ah thank you Ms. Andreva." Jonah said hesitantly.

Lowering her right arm to her side Andreva nodded. "Now I wish to see your troubled town."

"Right this way, I have a car waiting." Jonah said gesturing for Andreva to follow him. Andreva picked up her spartan luggage and fell in lockstep behind Jonah who not for the first time since he'd contacted Angus Macintyre wondered what he'd gotten himself into. He silently offered up a prayer everything would work out for the best. At that moment he couldn't have dreamed how wrong he was. How bad things would get and complicated the situation would eventually become.

Cider Falls Hospital

"Jennifer I came soon as I heard." John Jameson said trying to rush into Jennifer's room.

"Wait Mr. Jameson you're not on the list." A burly male police officer, one of a pair, said holding John back.

"Please let him in." Jennifer said weakly. "I want to see him."

"Alright, but if anything goes wrong," The male officer said.

"I'll take responsibility." Jennifer said with a small smile.

Releasing John the officers stepped aside. He ran to Jennifer's bedside. Leaning over he embraced her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Jennifer answered after a brief pausing during which she gave the question some thought. She decided it was no use telling John the truth. It would in all probability make matters worse. It would certainly complicate their relationship. Jennifer knew she was in love with John. She had never felt this way about anyone else. Although they had only known each other two months she felt they'd been together forever.

"Where did that crazy goblin lady take you? Did she hurt you?" John asked.

"I don't remember." Jennifer lied. Seeing no use in telling John about her ordeal, it wasn't as if she truly understood it herself.

"It doesn't matter you're here now. You're safe." John said releasing Jennifer from his tender embrace. "I'll protect you from here on. I swear. Jennifer I love you with all my heart."

"I love you too." Jennifer said meaning every word of her declaration.

"I'm glad you feel the same ways as I do." John said digging in his pants pocket he pulled out a small black velvet box. Opening it he revealed a medium sized diamond set in a golden band. "I was going to give you this in a couple of months at the end of summer, but now I feel it can't wait. Jennifer Walters will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" John asked getting down awkwardly on one knee in spite of still requiring his cane to get around.

Tears filled Jennifer's eyes. "Of course I'll marry you." Jennifer answered joyfully almost without thinking. While worried by her recent change and fearfully that it might happen again Jennifer felt if she pushed John away at this crucial moment she might lose him forever, which she couldn't face. As John slipped the ring on her finger she hoped she had made the right decision.

Fisk Mansion the next day, morning

"It is good to have you back, father." Alistair Smythe said helping his surrogate father and benefactor the walker bound Walter Wilson Fisk to his specially designed, high-tech hover chair.

"It is good to be back Alistair my boy." Fisk said settling into his chair. "Tell me Alistair how long until the Enforcers and Scorpion are released from prison?"

"Our lawyers are unsure. They are experiencing great difficulty getting the terrorism charges dismissed. It is a testament to our lawyers' skills however that the four haven't been transferred to the Vault out in Colorado as is." Alistair said.

"Which is to be expected, unfortunately," Fisk said. "Let us speak of something more joyous. How is the wedding coming along, no problems I hope?"

"The only major sticking point continues to be Debra's Uncle Daniel." Alistair said. "The man is beyond unreasonable. His continued demands become increasingly unreasonable daily."

"Perhaps I could talk with the man? Make him see reason?" Fisk offered.

"Sadly I doubt it." Alistair said sorting through the mail that had accumulated on his home office desk the past few weeks while he had been away seeing the freshly revived Fisk. One small, nondescript envelop caught his eyes. Turning it over in his hands he noted it bore no address of any kind, either send or return. Frowning Alistair opened the weird piece of mail with a pen knife. Inside was a single, postage card sized piece of yellow paper bearing a simple message printed in block letters – I KNOW ALL YOUR SECRETS. UNLESS YOU WANT THEM TO BECOME PUBLICAL KNOWLEDGE FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS. SIGN OVER CONTROL OF FISK INDUSTRIES TO ME NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30TH. I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH FURTHER DETAILS AS THE DATE APPROACHES. TELL ANYONE ABOUT OUR ARANGMENT YOU'LL REGREAT IT, TOXIN.

"Something wrong," Fisk asked noting Alistair's troubled expression.

"Not at all," Alistair said inconspicuously pocketing the offending letter. "Now where were we, ah yes the wedding." Alistair turned his attention back towards the beaming Fisk.

Kingsley Mansion, late morning

Daniel Kingsley sat back in his den smiling hands lacked behind his head. No doubt that upstart Alistair Smythe had received his little message by now. The boy would be running around like the proverbial chicken with it's head cut off in a vain attempt to uncover his blackmailer's identity. He could picture it now. Daniel's smirk grew wider. Of course Alistair would never learn the truth, certainly not in time. Thanks to Ned Leeds killing Daniel's brother no one could. The ironic part being that Leeds thought he'd killed a different man. Leeds having targeted Roderick he'd viciously murdered Daniel instead. This had left Roderick free to assume the identity of his mild mannered twin brother while leaving his career as the original Hobgoblin behind. Best of all nearly everyone now firmly believed Leeds had committed both Hobgoblins' crimes. In a recent poll of Bugle readers greater than sixty percent doubted there had been a second Hobgoblin. Such views of course played perfectly into Roderick now faux Daniel's hands. It had been pure luck the real Daniel had shown up when he did even more so that Roderick had convinced his brother to play a trick on Roderick's daughter and staff by switching places, as they had often done in their youth. While Roderick mourned his brother's loss better Daniel in the ground than Roderick himself.

Soon he would have control of Fisk Industries. Next he would miraculously return from the dead regaining control of his own estate. With his new found clout in local business circles he would finally bring Lilian Osborn to heel and thus add Oscorp to his portfolio. The best part being his plan was fool proof nothing could go wrong, or so he arrogantly assumed.

Dr. Bart Hamilton's House and Office, noon

Dr. Hamilton sat in his office quietly enjoying his lunch while awaiting his next appointed at 1:00 pm. He'd spent the past week mulling over his options. He hadn't fared well at all in his opinion during his initial outing. In fact he'd been lucky to escape with his hide and dignity intact. He'd reach the conclusion his best course of action was reaction. He wouldn't fall into the same trap his predecessors had. No, he'd play smart. He'd wait until a proper opportunity presented itself then strike. He'd still destroy Spider-Man and his allies, it would only take longer.

Watson Residence, afternoon

Mary Jane happily bounced down the steps towards the front door. "I'll get it mom." She said over her shoulder.

"Thanks Mary Jane." Her mother called from upstairs. "I wasn't expecting company. Were you dear?"

"No mom," Mary Jane said reaching the front door. Opening it Mary Jane was rendered speechless by who she found standing on the doorstep.

"Aren't you going to welcome me home sis?" The older red head said.

Parker Residence

"Boys come down right now. You should see this." Aunt May said calling me and Reilly downstairs.

"What is it Aunt May?" I said reaching the living room.

"Yeah wazzup," Reilly said coming in behind me.

Aunt May pointed at the TV screen. There was J. Jonah Jameson on a podium surrounded by local, regional and national media an imposing, vaguely feminine shaped, costumed figure stood to his left and slightly behind him. "Reiterating from this moment forward Cider Falls and surrounding area will no longer be terrorized by marauding meta humans and out of control mutants. Andreva represents the International Order of Hunters she'll do what our local authorities have failed to do. She'll clean up this town return things to how they once were, normal."

Jonah moved out of the way Andreva stepped forward. "This town has a disease, I am the cure." Having delivered her brief mission statement Andreva stepped back ignoring the reports' barrage of questions she walked away.

"That will be all." Jonah said before following Andreva. The local station then returned to regular Sunday afternoon programing.

"I think our lives have just gotten a lot more complicated." I said.

To Be Continue